Prebble Denies ITV Digital Will Close

ITV’s chief executive, Stuart Prebble, has denied that ITV Digital is to close, after receiving assurance from shareholders, Carlton and Granada, that their investment in the loss making platform would continue.

Announcing an increase in subscribers, Prebble sought to silence growing speculation that the platform is on the brink of collapse, saying: “Carlton and Granada have both said that there is no question of it’s closure.”

The long term future of ITV Digital, which has been a constant source of shareholder anxiety (see

Zenith Slams ITV Digital Sky Still Strong Despite Pre Tax Losses), the future of the platform remains uncertain.

Writing in the Media Guardian earlier this week, Prebble called on the Government to be swift in the implementation of its Digtal Action plan (see Government Launches Digital TV Action Plan), claiming that the future of digital TV in the UK depends on the success of ITV Digital (see Digital TV’s Future Depends On ITV Digital).

ITV Digital: 0808 100 0101 www.itv.co.uk

Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive